Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1887-03-24
INTRIGUED WITH KINGS.
AN INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE THAT
ENDED ON A PACIFIC
STEAMsHIP.
Strange Story of the Inheritance of VIM
Preston Hill, Oitissn Of Bush Hill,
Audrain County, No.
His Mother Belle of ST. Charles and q
FavOrite In st. Louis-Her Divorce
from BrittOn A. Hill and
Its incidents.

FAtuFEtS IN ST. Louia-neE DtFOtco
from Britton A. Hill and
ItsiIncidents.
New YORK, March 16.-Richard j.
Morrison, the public Administrator,
yesterday paid VIM. Preston Hill, of
Rush Hill, ,Audrain Co. Mo. .S49, POI, 4S
in cash, and turned over to him
about $4,000 in bonds, stocks and
jewelry, being HE share of the pro-
ceeds of the estate of man young
Hill never saw. and to-day the young
man will start for his home in Aud
rain county with his pleasant wind
fall in his pocket. The money be.
longed to the estate of Josephine E.
Hanson, widow of Louis Hanson, the
Twenty-third street tailor who killed
himself or was killed July 4, 1885, on
Storm King Mountain, near Newburg.
Louis Hanson was Dane who was
brought to this country as a cutter
by Rock, the Fifth avenue tailor. He
was first-class workman and saved
money enough to start in business
for himself. He soon accumulated a
snug fortune. In 1880 or 1881, hav-
ing been deserted by a woman who
had been living with him as his wife,
he advertised for housekeeper, and
his advertisement was answered by q
woman WIN called herself Mrs. Jose
phine E. Hunter. The woman was
well educated, sprightly and good
talker, and Hanson was facinated.
She said that her maiden name was
Courtney, but that she had been mar
ried at the age of Is to Rudolph
Hunter, an officer in the Confederate
service, who died few years later,
and that she had been a widow for
about 1S years. Hanson invited her
to dine with him, and within a week
they were
ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.
A few days later he presented to her
a pair of diamond earrings and 81, 900
in cash to pay for her wedding trous-
seau, but she kept the money and
had the bills sent to him for payment
after their marriage. AS soon as
they were married she wished to
travel, and he took her to Europe and
left her there. He discovered after
wards that while alone in Europe she
had passed under an assumed name.
She returned by way of Boston and
again joined him in New York. After
her return, however, she made her.
self so disagreeable that he was COM
PEELED to leave her and 60 to hotel
and she then sued him for limited
divorce. He employed Peter Mitchell
and ex-Judge Russell to defend the
suit. "His story as told at the time, !"
said Mr.. Mitchell yesterday in speak
ing of the case, "was the saddest tale
l ever heard man relate of his do
mestic troubles" The suit was COM
promised after a time, however, and
Hanson agreed to pay his wife $40 a
week and allow her to keep as much
of the furniture as she needed for her
own use but when he sued her for his
share of the furniture she said it was
in storage, when the fact was, as af-
terwards revealed, that she had caused
it to be sold at auction. The papers
for the legal separation were to be
drawn up and signed July 5, 1885.
On the Sd Mrs. Hanson sent for her
husband and asked him to take her
into the country for the fourth as she
was i'll and dreaded the noise of the
city on that day, and he consented.
The next day they were alone on
Storm King Mountain, Two pistol
shots were heard and when help ar
rived Hanson was found stretched on
the.ground with a bullet wound in the
head, pistol beside him and his wife
trying to staunch the flow of blood
from his wound with her handker.
chief. He was unconscious, and died
IN few minutes. In explanation oi
THE TRAGEDY
Mrs. Hanson said that her husband
had become angry and fired one shot
at her and then placed the pistol tc
his own head and fired again. 1t was
afterwards said that there were ne
powder marks about the wound il
Hanson's head, and that while Han
son himself did not own a revolver
and never carried one, his wife no
only owned one, but knew how t.
use the weapon.
These and other circumstances con
neeted with the tragedy raised /,
grave suspicion as to the truth of tn,
woman's story, and in the meantim,
the woman had disappeared ant
nothing was done.
Hanson owned fashionable tailor
ing establishment st No. Sc Yves
Twenty third street, and lived at Nc
444 Lexington avenue. He died inte
state, leaving an estate valued q
!e156.472, This the widow nut In